In Spokane, Washington, a judge temporarily blocked the killing of the last wolf pack member of the Old Profanity Territory wolf pack. The decision came on Friday afternoon after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife had killed four of the five wolves in the pack. The wolves had been attacking cattle.
According to the Spokesman Review, two Seattle residents filed a lawsuit on August 1 along with support from the Center for a Humane Economy, seeking a temporary restraining order from killing the wolves. The judge denied that restraining order, however on Friday the judge rules that the state and the cattle farmers had not “performed their due diligence on non-lethal methods” to deter the wolves.
Spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife, Staci Lehman stated the organization made every responsible decision.
The ruling from the judge apparently did not spare the life of the last female wolf. Sandy Kraus Smith, the WA State Council Volunteer at The Humane Society of the United States posted the devastating news about the wolves:
“My heart is shattered.
The Profanity Peak Family (OPT pack) no longer exists… It was wiped out early this morning by helicopter gunners…..puppies and adults. Originally WDFW reported all but one wolf was killed, but later updated that saying the entire remaining pack was slaughtered! They’re gone thanks to Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Gov. Inslee, and the federal government who would rather allow ranchers to graze their cows on our public lands than allow wildlife to live in their home.
Until the political and economic power of the livestock industry is destroyed, this will keep happening.”
The Center for Biological Diversity responded to the tragic news with the following statement:
“It’s unbelievably tragic that this wolf family has already been annihilated by the state,” said Sophia Ressler, Washington wildlife advocate and staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’re so thankful the court ruled in the wolves’ favor, even though it comes too late for all but one member of the OPT pack, which the state rushed to destroy before arguments to protect them could be heard. It seems like Washington’s wildlife agency is bent on wiping out the state’s wolves.” – Center for Biological Diversity
An 18-member Wolf Advisory Group representing concerns of environmentalists, hunters and livestock ranchers is currently in the process of revising protocols after Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new bill. The legislation calls for the Fish and Wildlife to consider the wolf population and has been authorized to spend $1 million over the next two years on nonlethal deterrents in northeastern Washington.
Wolves have been an endangered species throughout Washington. Their populations have increased an average of 30 percent each year. In 2018, the State Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated the state had a minimum of 122 wolves grouped in at least 22 packs and 14 successful breeding pairs. Washington, however has fewer conflicts between wolves and cattle than other states. They remain federally protected in the western two-thirds of the state where killing wolves is illegal.
The wolves need EVERYONE to contact Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee (and 2020 Presidential candidate) immediately. Go to this link for his contact info: https://animalwellnessaction.org/wawolves/…
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